Tracking the championship: UFC featherweight division

The UFC established its featherweight division at the end of 2010 after absorbing the WEC and folding it into the UFC. Follow the path of the UFC’s 145-pound championship belt.

Jose Aldo

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Jose Aldo was the reigning WEC champion when the UFC absorbed it and created its featherweight division. Aldo was installed as the champion. The Brazilian defended his title successfully seven times in five years. Between the WEC and UFC, Aldo was a champion for more than six years.

Conor McGregor

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For all his talk and antics and "Mystic Mac" predictions, Conor McGregor did exactly what he said he would do. And he did it in a glorious, record-breaking way. McGregor knocked out Aldo with one punch 13 seconds into their fight at UFC 194 on Dec. 12, 2015. It was the fastest finish in a UFC championship bout in the promotion's history, besting Ronda Rousey's record of 14 seconds set earlier that year. McGregor entered that fight as the interim featherweight champion.

Jose Aldo

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In 350 days as featherweight champion, Conor McGregor failed to defend his belt. Instead, he fought Nate Diaz twice at welterweight before winning the lightweight title from Eddie Alvarez in November. In the meantime, an interim featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar was held at UFC 200, a bout Aldo won via unanimous decision. Aldo and McGregor were expected to unify the title at some point in the future, but when the UFC 206 main event fell through on short notice, it triggered a chain reaction that led to McGregor vacating the belt on Nov. 26, 2016. With McGregor focusing on lightweight, Aldo was promoted to champion and an interim title fight between Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis was named the new headliner at UFC 206.